Bay of Biscay and the Iberian Coast Ecoregion

Pressure: Abrasion

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​This pressure principally affects the seabed habitats and is associated with bottom-contacting mobile gear, in particular beam trawling, otter trawling, and local activities linked to tourism such as anchoring. The physical disturbance of benthic habitats by bottom trawl fishing gear is described by using vessel monitoring system (VMS) and logbook data. The extent, magnitude, and impact of mobile bottom-contacting fishing gear on the seabed and benthic habitats varies geographically across the Bay of Biscay and Iberian Coast ecoregion. Fishing is mainly concentrated along the shelf edge, largely in the Bay of Biscay and off the western Iberian coast (Figure – note that the figure excludes Spanish fishing effort).​